Lahoud called to Sierra Leone national team ahead of African Cup of Nations qualifier

Philadelphia Union midfielder Michael Lahoud has been called up to represent the Sierra Leone men’s national team in a 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifier against the country of Seychelles on Aug. 2. Lahoud, 27, will not be available for selection in the Union’s Aug. 1 Major League Soccer regular season match against Sporting Kansas City.

This will be Lahoud’s third call-up to his native country, with his last coming on May 18 when he helped Sierra Leone defeat Swaziland in the first leg of another AFCON qualifier.

For the Union this season, Lahoud has appeared in eight matches (six in MLS), starting six. He joined the Union via trade in 2012 from Chivas USA and has appeared in 37 MLS matches for Philadelphia over the past three seasons.